Oily skin is a common complaint. And according to La Roche-Posay, 60% of Americans with oily skin report being dissatisfied with the skincare products they use to help control/treat oily skin. This leads 25% of Americans with oily skin to forego a daily moisturizer, generally because they don’t like how moisturizers work with their skin type, according to the brand.

On top of that, acne, pimples and breakouts remain the most common concern for Americans with oily skin, and acne prescriptions can lead to skin side effects and skin barrier disruption.

It is a complicated issue that leads to confusion.

“It is a common misconception by people with oily and acne-prone skin that a moisturizer will make their skin more greasy, or that using one may cause more breakouts. By working with dermatologists, we know many patients or consumers using acne medications and treatments can experience dryness and irritation from either prescription or over-the-counter drugs like adapalene, salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide,” said Tyler Steele, vice president, medical and media relations at La Roche-Posay.

New York City Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Shari Marchbein echoed the need for moisturizer use for those with oily and acne-prone skin. Moisturizer can offset acne treatment side effects such as dryness and irritation and specific hydrating ingredients can improve skin barrier function without affecting the medication, she said.

La Roche-Posay’s new Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer can be a solution, according to officials. The lightweight gel moisturizer is explicitly formulated for those with combination to oily skin, sensitive skin. It is clinically tested to be well tolerated while using acne prescriptions that can cause dry, sensitive skin, according to the L’Oréal-owned brand. 

This mattifying gel moisturizer delivers a unique dual action that helps to restore the skin barrier after one hour, and provides all-day hydration without shine, according to La Roche-Posay. It contains La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water, sourced in the town of La Roche-Posay in France; ceramide-3, which plays an essential role to help retain moisture and maintain a healthy skin barrier; niacinamide; vegetable-derived glycerin; silica to absorb a significant amount of oil from skin; and perlite. The latter is a powder derived from volcanic rock that can absorb water or oil and is known to provide a matte finish on skin.

“You can think of it like a tiny mineral sponge with pockets that absorb excess oil without causing irritation or dryness the way that mattifying ingredients like alcohol may impact skin,” said Steele.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer is sold at select CVS, Walgreens, Target and Ulta stores and can be purchased online at www.laroche-posay.us, Amazon, LovelySkin, Dermstore, Skinstore and SkincareRx.